Bougainvillea plant named ‘IREBABS6’

ABSTRACT

A  Bougainvillea  plant particularly distinguished by a rounded, low growing, and spreading shrub, prolific flowering, purple-violet bracts, and variegated foliage, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.

Variety denomination: ‘IREBABS6’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Bougainvillea, botanically known as Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘IREBABS6’. The new variety originated from a branch mutation of the Bougainvillea parent ‘Nonya’ (unpatented) in October 1997.

The new plant was first asexually propagated May 1998 in Brisbane, Australia and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings for numerous generations in Brisbane, Australia. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations by cuttings.

‘IREBABS6’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Brisbane, Australia.

-   -   1. A rounded, low growing, and spreading shrub; and     -   2. Having prolific flowering, purple-violet bracts and         variegated foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Bougainvillea plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the foliage and colored bracts of the plant. The colors are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures of plants grown outdoors in Brisbane, Australia.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the variegated foliage a plant approximately less than one-year-old.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the variegated foliage and bracts of a plant approximately six-years-old.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘IREBABS6’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Brisbane, Australia. The plant history was taken in May 2013 on five-year-old plants grown outdoors in Brisbane, Australia. Color references were taken under natural light and are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S. 2001).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Nyctaginaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.         -   Common name.—Bougainvillea.         -   Denomination.—‘IREBABS6’. -   Plant:     -   -   Type.—Shrub and perennial (in warmer climates).         -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Habit.—Low growing and spreading.         -   Appropriate containers.—Commercial pots of all sizes.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 weeks from a             cutting.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—60.0 cm to 100.0             cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—100.0 cm.         -   Pinching required.—Yes, at liner stage.         -   Propagation type.—Cuttings. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Horizontal.         -   Length.—About 60.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—4.0 mm to 15.0 mm.         -   Shape (cross-section).—Round.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—RHS 199B.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Thorns.—Size: 0.6 cm in length; 0.2 cm in width (at the base             where the thorns meet the branch). Quantity: Not at every             leaf node but at approximately 90% of the leaf nodes. Color:             RHS 199B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Over 60.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Strong.         -   Length.—2.5 cm to 2.55 cm.         -   Width.—1.2 cm to 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             N138B.         -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 147A, RHS 10A for margins.             Lower surface: RHS 138B, RHS 10B for margins.         -   Texture.—Both upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth;             pubescence is absent.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             N138A.         -   Petiole.—Color: RHS N138A. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.25             cm. -   Inflorescence: Height: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Width: 5.0 cm.     -   -   Bud.—Color: Purple-violet. Height: 0.9 cm to 1.5 cm.             Diameter: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single flowers arranged in axillary             panicles; flowers are upright and self-cleaning. Fragrance:             Absent. Aspect: Upright. Flowering season: Profuse             flowering; flowers in autumn, the spring and regions with             mild winters. Diameter: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Quantity per             lateral stem: Over 80. Quantity of flowers per             inflorescence: 8 to 10. Flower tube (perianth): Width: 0.35             cm to 0.40 cm. Length: 2.0 cm. Color: RHS 155B. Quantity per             flower: 3; composed of 5 fused petals. Bracts: Quantity per             flower: 3. Length: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm to             2.0 cm. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Color, when opening:             Upper surface: RHS N81B. Lower surface: RHS N81C. Color,             when open: Upper surface: RHS N81B. Lower surface: RHS N81C.             Peduncle: Length: 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Angle:             30°. Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 138A. Pedicel: Length: 0.2             cm to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Angle: 25°. Strength:             Moderate. Color: RHS 138A. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No specific disease or insect     resistance observed. -   Reproductive organs: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘IREBABS6’ differs from the mutation parent Bougainvillea parent ‘Nonya’ in that ‘IREBABS6’ has variegate foliage, while ‘Nonya’ does not have variegated foliage. Additionally, ‘IREBABS6’ has a lower growing habit than ‘Nonya’.

‘IREBABS6’ differs from the commercial comparison ‘Beesnees’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,946) in that ‘IREBABS6’ has 3 unfused bracts per flower, while ‘Beesnees’ has 5 fused bracts per flower. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Bougainvillea plant as shown and described herein. 